Transcript Slide 1

Local Scrutiny and Engagement Project
Plans & Scrutiny
Cheryl Smith
Improvement Service
Reform of the Services
 To protect and improve local services, despite financial cuts; by
stopping duplication without cutting the front line
 To supply more equitable access across Scotland to specialist
support and national capacity where and when it’s needed;
 To strengthen connection between services and communities
through engagement with many more local councillors and better
integration with community planning
Aims of the Act:
 enabling framework for local scrutiny and engagement,
providing:
– flexibility for arrangements to be tailored to suit local needs
– opportunities for increased local democratic scrutiny of
police and fire and rescue services
– better integration with community planning arrangements
Requirements of the Act:
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Designation of Local Commander/ Senior Officer for each authority
area, following consultation with local authority
Chief Constable/SFRS ensure adequate arrangements for
policing/carrying out functions in each authority area
Publication of local plans for police & fire
Local authorities to be involved in setting local priorities and objectives
Local authorities to approve local plans and can request specific
policing measures to go in the local plan
Local plans to be replaced at least every 3 years
Local authority to monitor and provide feedback to Local
Commander/Senior Officer
Local authority can request reports and information as deemed
reasonable
Responsibility for community planning lies with Chief Constable
What the act does not address:
 Whether single Local Commander/Senior Officer covers more
than 1 authority area
 Whether single scrutiny committee covers more than 1 local
authority area
 Dispute resolution mechanism if local plan is not approved by
local authority
 Format for local plans, whether plans for police, fire and other
matters are combined – for SPA/SFRS Board to define (service
produced templates available/in development)
 Provision of locally funded additional officers
LSE - Overview
 Aims of project – Facilitate smooth transition & ensure the new
arrangements strengthen the connection between services and
communities
 Project mandated – December 2011
 Level of participation – All 32 local authorities (23 as Pathfinders,
9 as Networkers), all 16 police forces and fire and rescue services
 Police & Fire Reform Act – Royal Assent granted 7 August,
staged commencement
Developing & Draft Plans in:
Aberdeen (Police & Fire)
Aberdeenshire (Police)
Argyll & Bute (Police)
Shetland (Police & Fire)
Dumfries & Galloway (Police)
East Lothian (Police & Fire)
West Lothian (Police & Fire – Joint)
Scottish Borders (Police & Fire)
Midlothian (Police & Fire)
Moray (Police & Fire)
Edinburgh (Police & Fire)
Dundee (Police and Fire)
Angus (Police)
Perth & Kinross (Police)
Local Plan Development
 A varied landscape of approaches, issues and timescales
 Fire & Rescue & Police Service both intend:
 Initial Plans in place for ‘Day 1’.
 Corporate Identity applied to all the plans for ‘Day 1’ - Templates
 General Layout - Introductions – Rationale – National Priorities &
National Performance
 Local Section will almost certainly have differences
 Beyond April 1st – A further year towards a 3 year planning cycle
Developing Scrutiny Arrangements:
Actual Meeting, Committee Reports, Preparation and Training
Aberdeen
Aberdeenshire
Edinburgh
Dumfries & Galloway
Dundee
East Lothian
East Renfrewshire
Glasgow
Highland
Moray
Orkney
Perth & Kinross
Scottish Borders
Shetland
West Lothian
Midlothian
Local Scrutiny Arrangements
Scrutiny arrangements being tested – examples include:
 Member only committee - Policy and Resources
 Member led Committee - partners and officers as non voting advisers
 Full Council
 Partnership - Safer and Stronger or Community Safety Partnerships but
with additional elected member representation
Local Scrutiny Development
 Training, briefings ongoing – especially important for new members
 Local discussions in most areas
 Committee papers now common
 Arrangements will need time to work, show good scrutiny
 Support members and new service arrangements
 All within the context of reform and community planning
Collaborative Statement
Five Principles:
 Focus on outcomes
 Understand local conditions and reflect the community voice
 Promote joint working to secure better outcomes and best value
 Provide strategic leadership in order to influence service delivery
 Support continuous improvement by providing constructive challenge
Practice Examples
 Outcomes – Aberdeen City Fire Plan
A very outcome focused plan, clear, linked to CPP/SOA with evidence of community engagement
 Local Conditions and Community – Edinburgh Police Plan
Innovative and thorough approach – 1500 street surveys, focus on place and people, member led
 Joint Working – West Lothian Daily T&CG & Co-location
Long term commitment to co-location, established daily, monthly and strategic tasking, delegated scrutiny
 Strategic Leadership – Dundee P&R Full Council Scrutiny
All members involved in shaping the pathfinder, reports to P&R with all members in attendance
 Continuous Improvement – Highland Member led
Bringing a range of Safer issues into a single scrutiny model. Members and invitees, advisors
Scrutiny of Local Plans
 Establish clear line of sight between national and local priorities
 Focus on outcomes and improvement – reduce inequality gaps
 Ensure service delivery meeting needs
 Ensure decisions being implemented
Effective Scrutiny - Skills and Knowledge
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Effective communication, leadership, relationships
Understanding of resource allocation
Understand the evidence – tackling root causes
Knowledge of partnership structures; accountability mechanisms
Know where failure is happening – celebrate success
Performance Management frameworks
Ability to promote change through service improvement
Maintain balance between national and local priorities service delivery
Understand priority setting process, the use of data, evidence and analysis
in decision-making
Build open and trusting relationships
Community Safety
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Effective and embedded partnership structures
Use evidence and analysis to determine shared priorities
Partnership priority setting
Community engagement and consultation
Understand performance reporting / monitoring
Versed in Strategic Assessment production
Elected member involvement
Issues / Challenges
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Time constraints – timing of scrutiny / training
Public perception i.e. prioritisation / investment public money
Local ward level scrutiny stronger
Is pooling of resources and budgets
Boundaries – not coterminous in some places – differing approaches
National versus local priorities
Scrutinisers expected to know everything?
Aligning the vision of local Safer and Stronger business and the SOA
EM scrutinised by voters
Focus on people vs focus on quality of decision and delivery
Beyond April 2013
 The Local Scrutiny & Engagement Board
 The Plans and Performance Reference Group
 On-going direct advice, training and support to colleagues
 Provide written guidance and detailed reports
 Develop Assessment and Evaluation tools
 National and Regional Events
 Case Studies - work underway
 Part of Safer Communities
Thank you
[email protected]
07774 765837